Research Shows Acupuncture is an Effective Treatment for Arthritis

Dr Brian Berman, University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore,conducted one of the world’s longest and largest clinical trials to investigatethe efficacy of acupuncture in treating osteoarthritis. His team foundsignificantly reduced pain and improved mobility.

NCCAM director Dr Stephen Straus said: “For the first time, a clinical trialwith sufficient rigor, size, and duration has shown that acupuncture reduces thepain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee.”

“These results also indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective additionto a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for kneeosteoarthritis sufferers. NCCAM has been building a portfolio of basic andclinical research that is now revealing the power and promise of applyingstringent research methods to ancient practices like acupuncture.”

The study, ending in 2004, was funded by the National Center for Complementaryand Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Institute of Arthritis andMuscoloskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) treated a total of 570 patients aged50 and older